ALBANY – Hip-hop mogul Russell Simmons faced even more trouble from the state Lobbying Commission yesterday: a criminal probe of a possibly “illegal” gift to a powerful state official.

The probe, of a free helicopter trip given last week to Secretary of State Randy Daniels, came a day after the commission began a “formal investigation” of Simmons, Andrew Cuomo and several others.

The commission wants to determine if Simmons and the others should have registered as lobbyists because of their high-profile campaign to get lawmakers and Gov. Pataki to reduce the tough Rockefeller Drug Law sentences.

Commission Executive Director David Grandeau said the new probe was sparked by The Post’s disclosure yesterday that Daniels flew to Albany for a drug-law meeting with Pataki and legislative leaders on a helicopter chartered by Simmons, who also attended the session.

While Daniels said he would reimburse Simmons for the flight to comply with the state ethics law, Grandeau said the lobbying law bars lobbyists from providing gifts worth more than $75 to senior state officials, whether they provide reimbursement or not.

“If it is determined that Mr. Simmons should have registered as a lobbyist then a trip like this would constitute an illegal gift under the Lobbying Act and would subject Mr. Simmons to a fine of up to $25,000 and a possible conviction for a Class A misdemeanor,” said Grandeau.

“We’re going to take a look at this to see what transpired because it is exactly the same situation as the Correctional Services Corp. did with Gloria Davis,” continued Grandeau.

The Florida-based company was fined more than $200,000 earlier this year for a series of lobbying-law violations including giving free, chauffeur-driven car rides from New York City to Albany to state lawmakers, including Assemblywoman Gloria Davis (D-Bronx), who resigned in January after pleading guilty to accepting a bribe.

A Simmons spokeswoman had no comment on the latest investigation.

Simmons also faces a fine of up to $100,000 if he is found to have violated the lobbying law, which requires anyone spending more than $2,000 to influence the governor or the Legislature to register as a lobbyist, said Grandeau.